One of the guys who is in a Tigers e-mail loop with me at work is putting together a one-a-day player critique starting at #1 and working through the player list. It's a pretty good read so I thought I would share it with you.
Part 15 in the series….
15 - Leon Cameron
Position: Half Back
Age: 30, turns 31 just before the finals
Height: 185cm
Weight: 84kg
Career Games: 235 ( 63 at Richmond)
Career Goals: 92 ( 24 at Richmond)
Draft History: Selected No 7 in the 1988 National Draft by the Doggies, Traded to Richmond for selections 37 & 66 in the 1999 National Draft.
2002 Averages: 19 Games, 9.7 Kicks, 3.1 Marks, 4.8 Handballs, 0.1 Goals, 1.2 Tackles, 2 Rebounds, 3.1 Inside 50s, 1.1 Clearance, 1.7 Clangers
Stat Fact: Cameron is one of only 4 Listed Tigers in the "Red" with his goals to behinds over his career. He has 92-121. The others are Coughlan 8-9, Fiora 12-17 & Vardy 1-3. Interesting for a guy with such a reputation for his kicking.
2002 Summary: Disappointing year for Cameron after a great 2001. Was good early (IMHO) though and was going along pretty well until injury caught him up and he missed rounds 9-11. One exception to that early run was his game against Essendon where he constantly picked out Bombers with pin-point passes. I thought I must have either drunk way too much beer or entered an opposite parallel universe and was watching the "Evil" Leon Cameron. Pre-Injury he was averaging 17.4 possessions per game as opposed to 12.4 afterwards. He never seemed to get 100% fit after that and gathered a fair bit of bench time. It should be pointed out that his kicking yips though had been well and truly on display in those first 8 games and I was doubtful he was actually fully fit then. Kicked only 2 goals 10 behinds for the year (both goals pre-injury). Standout games for the year were probably against Collingwood first up, Melbourne, Sydney & Essendon (2nd match). A number of other reasonable games but a fair few shockers. Still reasonably reliable as the designated "kicker" from a behind, but even that went astray a bit. Still finished 10th overall for disposals, 5th for inside 50s, 8th for total kicks and equal 9th for Rebounds. Figures that probably show a bad year without being shocking for Cameron in a bad year for the Tigers.
Previously: Was a sensation in 2001, played every game, averaging over 19 possessions per game and kicked 19 goals for the year. Finished 3rd in the B&F. This followed on a good "Debut" year for the Tiges where he was more than solid, averaging over 17 touches using the ball in a way that confused Richmond Supporters (i.e. It went to one of our blokes usually) and finished 5th in the B&F. Beautiful foot skills were what really marked his first two years at Richmond as it had at the Doggies where he won a B&F back in 93.
Ability: 7 - Well above average, has class, poise and quality skills under pressure.
Offence: 6 - Goal kicking has always been an achillis heel for him, but showed in 2001 he can go forward and make a real menace of himself where his creativity can set-up as well as finish.
Defence: 6 - Is primarily an "attacking defender" but shows discipline and accountability within the scope of the role he usually plays as one of guys required to get the footy from the Gaspar's and Co and deliver downfield.
Hardness: 4.5 - Plays a role where he's best out of the heavy stuff, but I wouldn't say he shirks it either. Will take the physical pressure applied to him, although can be knocked around a bit and not the sort to lay the crunching tackle or hip & shoulder.
Speed: 5 - I'd put him about average for an AFL player, though my memories of him as a Doggie was of a much quicker player. Age and injuries have probably put a dent in that speed but he's far from slow and the footy brain can make him appear even quicker.
Part 15 in the series….
15 - Leon Cameron
Position: Half Back
Age: 30, turns 31 just before the finals
Height: 185cm
Weight: 84kg
Career Games: 235 ( 63 at Richmond)
Career Goals: 92 ( 24 at Richmond)
Draft History: Selected No 7 in the 1988 National Draft by the Doggies, Traded to Richmond for selections 37 & 66 in the 1999 National Draft.
2002 Averages: 19 Games, 9.7 Kicks, 3.1 Marks, 4.8 Handballs, 0.1 Goals, 1.2 Tackles, 2 Rebounds, 3.1 Inside 50s, 1.1 Clearance, 1.7 Clangers
Stat Fact: Cameron is one of only 4 Listed Tigers in the "Red" with his goals to behinds over his career. He has 92-121. The others are Coughlan 8-9, Fiora 12-17 & Vardy 1-3. Interesting for a guy with such a reputation for his kicking.
2002 Summary: Disappointing year for Cameron after a great 2001. Was good early (IMHO) though and was going along pretty well until injury caught him up and he missed rounds 9-11. One exception to that early run was his game against Essendon where he constantly picked out Bombers with pin-point passes. I thought I must have either drunk way too much beer or entered an opposite parallel universe and was watching the "Evil" Leon Cameron. Pre-Injury he was averaging 17.4 possessions per game as opposed to 12.4 afterwards. He never seemed to get 100% fit after that and gathered a fair bit of bench time. It should be pointed out that his kicking yips though had been well and truly on display in those first 8 games and I was doubtful he was actually fully fit then. Kicked only 2 goals 10 behinds for the year (both goals pre-injury). Standout games for the year were probably against Collingwood first up, Melbourne, Sydney & Essendon (2nd match). A number of other reasonable games but a fair few shockers. Still reasonably reliable as the designated "kicker" from a behind, but even that went astray a bit. Still finished 10th overall for disposals, 5th for inside 50s, 8th for total kicks and equal 9th for Rebounds. Figures that probably show a bad year without being shocking for Cameron in a bad year for the Tigers.
Previously: Was a sensation in 2001, played every game, averaging over 19 possessions per game and kicked 19 goals for the year. Finished 3rd in the B&F. This followed on a good "Debut" year for the Tiges where he was more than solid, averaging over 17 touches using the ball in a way that confused Richmond Supporters (i.e. It went to one of our blokes usually) and finished 5th in the B&F. Beautiful foot skills were what really marked his first two years at Richmond as it had at the Doggies where he won a B&F back in 93.
Ability: 7 - Well above average, has class, poise and quality skills under pressure.
Offence: 6 - Goal kicking has always been an achillis heel for him, but showed in 2001 he can go forward and make a real menace of himself where his creativity can set-up as well as finish.
Defence: 6 - Is primarily an "attacking defender" but shows discipline and accountability within the scope of the role he usually plays as one of guys required to get the footy from the Gaspar's and Co and deliver downfield.
Hardness: 4.5 - Plays a role where he's best out of the heavy stuff, but I wouldn't say he shirks it either. Will take the physical pressure applied to him, although can be knocked around a bit and not the sort to lay the crunching tackle or hip & shoulder.
Speed: 5 - I'd put him about average for an AFL player, though my memories of him as a Doggie was of a much quicker player. Age and injuries have probably put a dent in that speed but he's far from slow and the footy brain can make him appear even quicker.
